Items

• Parish Waste Reduction Program strategic plans at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH), Grove City, OH

  This PDF copy of a powerpoint presentation contains the plans generated by the Creation Care Council of OLPH to launch a waste reduction program that has since become quite successful. Various levels of detail are contained in the slides, within a congregational creation care team meeting format; the planning process and details here can be helpful to similar efforts in other places. Note that the grant that this presentation mentions hoping to apply for was successfully gained (for $2000) to provide signage and other infrastructure to greatly empower this project.
• Congregational Profile: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Grove City, OH: How it began in one parish

  In 2016, prompted by Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si,” we at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Grove City, Ohio, held two 8-week sessions of discussions on the encyclical and at the end of the second session, our pastor, Fr. Daniel J. Millisor, appointed the discussion leader, Sister Nancy Miller, OSF as chairperson and called together a team to explore how the parish might lower our carbon footprint. The Creation Care Council (CCC) of our parish meets monthly for prayer, discussion and action in response to Laudato Si’s call for greater care for our common home. We conducted a parish survey, with the intention of enhancing awareness among parishioners, as well as to determine if, and how, members were already incorporating recycling and composting into their daily lives. The results were highly, though not entirely, favorable. In addition to regularly inserting information and suggestions into our parish bulletins, taking the CCC members to tour a landfill, recycling plant, and the OSU Byrd Polar Research Center, we requested that all committees at the parish look at ways to reduce or eliminate their use of Styrofoam dinnerware. Rather than condemn polluters, we wrote thank you notes to businesses that showed environmental stewardship. We began annually purchasing and giving away seedling trees to plant on Earth Day. We took on trying to improve parish recycling efforts – providing new recycling containers for all parish offices, inviting a local official – an environmental expert – to explain to us what is and is not recyclable, preparing an interactive recycling quiz at the parish festival, and then attempting to bring recycling to the parish picnic and festival. The efforts to incorporate recycling in parish events “failed” the first year, but we got it right the second year and this (the third) year, we successfully introduced food waste composting to Lenten Parish Fish Fry dinners, the Parish Picnic, and our largest parish event of the year: the Parish Festival. The 2019 Parish Festival served an estimated 5,000 meals, working with food vendors to increase their ability to serve compostable dishware and cutlery. In total, the CCC was able to divert 2,704 gallons of waste from the local landfill, which constituted 86% of all waste at the Festival. We also exceeded all expectations in soliciting nearly 100 volunteers to help teach and monitor correct depositing of these materials - without tapping the usual volunteer corps that was still needed to keep the regular parts of the festival going. With the support of our pastor and dedicated CCC members, we’ve come a long way, and still feel like we have only just begun!
• Key Messages from Skalholt, Iceland Conference on Faith for Earth

  From the statement introduction: "Bishops and religious leaders from the Nordic countries, U.S. and Canada met with scholars, artists, holistic health practitioners, environmental grassroot activists and representatives from environmental organisations including the United Nations Environmental Programme’s Faith for Earth Initiative. The participants discussed the role of faith, spirituality and religious belief in tackling the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. The meeting was addressed by Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, Iceland´s Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources. "
• Indigenous Arctic: The Moral Choice for Religious Communities

  Bishop Mark MacDonald spoke about Indigenous communities in the Arctic at the Arctic Circle conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, in October of 2019. Bishop MacDonald's speech highlighted that we are at a key moment to determine the sustainability of human cultures, and engaged many questions related to the relationships between, among, and beyond Indigenous Arctic faith communities. He discussed the role of religious stewardship, an integral ecology, the impact of colonization and poverty, the need to hear indigenous voices, and foster deeper relationships with the land. He lifts up the witness of Indigenous cultures as calling people to a new way of life and thinking.
• Religion and Environment Songs: Connect to Nature (Beatrice Dossah) music video

  From the YouTube video description: "The Song, '' Connect to nature' talks about connecting children to nature using creative medium such as the arts. The song is part of a research work by Beatrice Dossah with sponsorship from the United Nations University Land Restoration Training Programme in Iceland. The research work was supervised by Dr. Ellen Gunnarsdottir and Dr. Ásthildur Björg Jónsdóttir of the Iceland Academy of Arts."
• Dr. Iyad Abumoghli

  Dr. Iyad Abumoghli has more than 34 years of experience with international organizations, the private sector, and scientific institution. Dr. Abumoghli’s expertise focus on strategic planning, sustainable development, water resources management, and knowledge and innovation. Currently, Dr. Abumoghli is the Lead Principal Advisor on Engaging with Faith-Based Organizations at UN Environment. Previously Dr. Abumoghli held several leading positions including the Regional Director and Representative of UN Environment in West Asia 2012-2017, Director of Knowledge and Innovation at UNDP’s Regional Office in Cairo 2009-2012, Senior Environment Advisor at UNDP’s Sub-Regional Resource Facility in Beirut 2006-2009, Global Practice Manager for the Energy and Environment Group in New York 2003-2006, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP in Jordan 1997-2003. Dr. Abumoghli adopts a holistic multi-sectoral approach to development ensuring cross-thematic integration with internal and external partners. Dr. Abumoghli holds a doctorate degree in Bio-Chemical Engineering from the University of Bath/UK, an outstanding graduate of the Virtual Development Academy – Johns University, and a BA in Chemical Engineering from University of Jordan.
• Interfaith Rainforest Initiative

  From the organization's website: "The Interfaith Rainforest Initiative is an international, multi-faith alliance that aims to bring moral urgency and faith-based leadership to global efforts to end tropical deforestation. It is a platform for religious leaders to work hand-in-hand with indigenous peoples, governments, civil society and business on actions that protect rainforests and safeguard those that serve as their guardians." The initiative focuses on raising awareness, mobilizing action, and influencing policy.
• United Nations Environment Programme Faith for Earth Initiative

  Launched in November of 2017, the UN Environment Faith for Earth Initiative recognizes the social, economic, moral, and environmental influence of faith communities, and established the initiative to "strategically engage with faith-based organizations and partner with them to collectively achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." As stated on the initiative's webpage: "Faith for Earth has three main goals: to inspire and empower faith organizations and their leaders to advocate for protecting the environment, to green faith-based organizations’ investments and assets to support the implementation of SDGs, and to provide them with knowledge and networks to enable their leaders to effectively communicate with decision-makers and the public."
• Faith For Earth Dialogue

  Faith for Earth Dialogue conference sponsored by UN Environment Faith for Earth Initiative, held in Nairobi, Kenya, March 11-15, 2019. Links to conference website, program brochure, full conference schedule, and conference session details below. Event explored faith-based organizations and their contribution to impacting sustainable consumption.
• Profile: Rev. Dr. Heber M Brown

  Rev. Dr. Heber M. Brown is a Baptist pastor in Baltimore, Maryland. Brown is committed to social development and has been instrumental in the creation of several programs in the Baltimore area. These include Orita’s Cross Freedom School, of which he is the founding director, and the Black Church Food Security Network. The latter works to support the accessibility of food by linking historically African American congregations with urban growers and Black farmers. Brown has received a number of awards recognizing his work, including the Ella Baker Freedom Fighter Award and the Food Justice Award from the Baltimore City Office of Civil Rights.
• Caring for Creation: Corner of Creation (Madison Christian Community)

  Madison Christian Community offers a number of helpful resources for faith communities. One of the items is a “study-action” program that can support communities in reclaiming their sense of place. It is called “Caring for Creation: Corner of Creation.”
• Madison Christian Community

  Madison Christian Community is the community created by Community of Hope, UCC and Advent Lutheran Church, ELCA. They have made environmental care and action a major cornerstone of their mission. Their church website is a wonderful resource for many congregations who are looking for success stories for implementing creation care into one’s own community.
• Let All Creation Praise

  Let All Creation Praise is a website maintained by Nick Utphall a pastor in Madison, WI; Susan Zencka, a pastor in Stevens Point, WI; Alydia Smith, programing coordinator for the United Church of Canada; Leah Schade, a professor of preaching and worship at Lexington Theological Seminary (KY), and David Rhoads, director of Lutherans restoring Creation. The website has many resources for worship, and they are an advocate for supporting the Season of Creation which is an opportunity to add this season of four Sundays celebrating creation and the creator to the traditional church year.
• Baltimore, Ohio Community Gardens

  A 2017 article written by Robert Badgeley and published by the Lancaster Eagle Gazette shares the success of the Baltimore Community Gardens sponsored by Faith Lutheran Church in Baltimore, Ohio. Extra produce is donated to the local Baltimore Food Pantry.
• Toledo GROWs

  Toledo GROWs supports more than 125 community gardens by providing education, materials, volunteers, and tools to local community gardens, including faith-based community gardens. They also operate a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) available to local Toledo residents. In addition to the support they give to community gardens, they also offer workshops and programming to the larger Northwest Ohio community.
• Ohio State Offers Free Gardening Help to Faith-based Organizations to Increase Urban Agriculture

  An article written in 2015 by Tracy Turner for the College of Food Agricultural and Environmental studies covers a 2015 workshop led by OSU Extension, a part of the Ohio State University community, for faith leaders on creating community gardens. For those looking to grown the involvement of the community beyond their faith community, this article is an example of a local university connecting with faith communities around community gardens.
• Derbyshire Place Community Garden

  Not only do more traditionally organized faith communities create community gardens, but Derbyshire Place is an example of a faith-based community center that is also getting involved in community gardening. Breaking ground in 2019, the goal of this community garden is to increase accessibility to fresh fruits and vegetables for families who may have difficulty affording fresh produce at the grocery store. Leaders also hope it will give an opportunity for inter-generational community conversation.
• Faith Presbyterian Community Garden

  Faith Presbyterian is involved in many service and mission programs in Myrtle Beach where they are located. Their service work includes a community garden. They use the produce of this garden to support those who experience food insecurity in the Myrtle Beach area and to connect with God as creator. One of the ways that they share information about their community garden is through a Facebook page. Facebook pages or groups can be a great resource for faith communities who are beginning their own community gardens too.
• PIN Garden Ministry: Asbury United Methodist Church

  The PIN Garden Ministry at Asbury United Methodist Church was started in 2007 to provide fresh produce to People In Need, a service organization in Delaware County. It is tended to by parishioners and intentionally includes children in the maintenance of the garden as a way to extend youth ministry into the outdoor classroom.
• Anthony’s Garden

  St Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Powell, Ohio created Anthony’s Garden to memorialize the son of family in their congregation. The garden is tended by parishioners, and each week produce from their garden is donated to their local food pantry Help My Neighbor.
• Seminary Hill Farm

  The Seminary Hill Farm is a ministry on the campus of the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO). Made of fields, hoop houses, and a greenhouse, the farm works to provide fresh food throughout the year to the Seminary Hill Kitchen, a three-season community supported agriculture (CSA), and local farmers markets. The work of the seminary hill farm supports sustainable practices and MTSO’s commitment to faithful earth stewardship. You can also follow their blog that features articles on eating fresh local produce and life at the farm.
• DSO Connections

  The Diocese of Southern Ohio utilizes an online platform, Connections, to maintain open channels of communication throughout their community. Their articles on Creation Care are complied in a single page which includes updates from individual congregations that have made steps toward creation care in energy efficiency and more. They also provide resources to connect one’s faith with civic action. They shared an article outlining 2019 attempts to end Ohio’s renewable energy standards and included ways that individuals could contact their legislators.
• National Letter to President Concerning Environmental Roll Backs

  In October 2018, 132 faith communities, including seven Ohio-based faith communities, signed a letter to President Trump, EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler, and Secretary Ryan Zinke to implore them to maintain the environmental protection measures, including the clean water rule.
• Huffington Post Interfaith Environmental Organizations

  In 2014, Huffington post noted the trend of faith groups to make their voices heard in conversations about how to encourage and improve care for the environment. The author of the article, Antonia Blumberg collected fourteen interfaith organizations that are active across America in environmental efforts.
• “Mama Earth Needs Better Loving”

  In an opinion article for the Columbus Dispatch, Suzette Martinez Sandring offered a faith-inspired reflection on Earth Day 2019 that considers the necessity of change in our attitude and action toward the rest of creation.